US 5,516,078 A · Gas cylinder valve with non-perforated diaphragms

Abstract

A gas cylinder valve with minimum wetted area has a one-piece valving assembly comprising a valve member, a non-perforated diaphragm member and a valve stem, the latter including a threaded stud and a stem shaft threaded on to the stud. The threaded stud, diaphragm member and valve member are fused together by a YAG laser weld applied through a central, blind bore in the valve member. Another through weld is applied around the peripheral edge of the threaded stud. A rim on the stem shaft clamps the diaphragm outside the peripheral weld through a pair of washers which absorb the torsional load. A helical compression spring bears on a valve stem shaft shoulder outside the wetted area to bias the valve open. A resilient bushing supported by a metal cup backs up the diaphragm member.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A gas cylinder valve for gas cylinders containing compressed gases, said gas cylinder valve comprising:

a valve body having a valve chamber and an inlet passage and an outlet passage each communicating with said valve chamber;
a valve member movable in said valve chamber between a closed position in which said valve member seats against said inlet passage, and an open position in which said valve member is spaced from said inlet passage;
a non-perforated diaphragm member forming a flexible wall of said valve chamber opposite said inlet passage;
and
valve stem means reciprocally movable in said valve body, said valve member, said non-perforated diaphragm member and said valve stem means being fused together with said non-perforated diaphragm member between said valve member and said valve stem means to form a one-piece valving assembly without perforation of said diaphragm member such that reciprocal movement of said valve stem means moves said valve member between said open position and said closed position.

2 more elements

A gas cylinder valve for a gas cylinder containing compressed gas, said cylinder valve comprising:

a valve body having an elongated bore forming a valve chamber and a counterbore in said elongated bore forming an annular ledge adjacent said valve chamber, said valve body also having an inlet passage communicating with said valve chamber and aligned with said elongated bore and an outlet passage also communicating with said valve chamber;
a valve member movable in said valve chamber between a closed position in which said valve member seats against said inlet passage, and an open position in which said valve member is spaced from said inlet passage;
a diaphragm member seated on said annular ledge and forming a flexible wall of said valve chamber opposite said inlet passage such that said counterbore is outside said valve chamber;
a bonnet means threadedly engaging said counterbore to clamp said diaphragm member against said annular ledge;
a valve stem reciprocally movable in said counterbore outside said valve chamber and fused to said diaphragm member and said valve member such that said valve stem, said diaphragm member and said valve member move as a one-piece valving assembly between said open and closed positions of said valve member;
and
spring means in said counterbore outside said valve chamber, engaging said valve stem and biasing said valve member to said open position.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Gas cylinder valve with non-perforated diaphragms

Life of this patent

Gas cylinder valve with non-perforated diaphragms

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20